Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-15
Famous Shrews.

Famous Shrews.
WOMEN WHO HAVE sCOLDED THEIR WAY INTO HIS.
TORY.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal
Some OF the shrews have had as enduring re.
cord in history as have some Of the beauties
though owing their fame to a very opposite quail
ity. England and France supply the most promi-
nent specimens.
Royalty nrst however Matilda, empress and
claimant against King stephen for the crown Of
England, has left a fair claim to masterful tenn
permanent. Queen Elizabeth, great as she was,
as when she boxed ESseX's ears as a right ROYAL
Shrew. SO was Catherine de Medici. So emphat-
lcally, was Christina OF Sweden, who caused her
chamberlain, Monaldeschi, In the right OF her pre-
rogatfve, to be strangled in palace of the King
OF France. SO was Catherine Of Russia, shreW
VINO had absolute power to back up her shrewish-
In Henry Wits reign, Lady More, wife of the
great and good Sir Thomas, stands out as very
dren alike with much austerity. But she does not,
though she liked her own way, appear, as far as
we can see, In any way to come up to Lady Coke,
the terrible CHIEF justice (of whom James himself
said: "Nay, mon; If Coke sends for me I must
co., nearly frantic The subject was their daugh-
gable, resolute and most accomplished scold.
Now for French one little known to English
readers In general She was Madame de Verv1ns,
who, In the seventeenth century, was fine speci,
men OF the species. She told her servants to kill
CnOSe OF lady WhOm her lackeyS 1nSulted for VEN
turing to defend their mistress. She bullled her
husband necessarily, and, on one occasion In a
quarrel, USED her riding whip as an argument,
She habitually beat her servants violently, She
Scolded her acQua1ntanceS for the least difference
or opinion, unfavorable criticism, or most minute
slight offered to her fancied by her. and plotted
their assassination II they opposed her imperious
and arbitrary nature.
Another woman OF the same type, who loved to
play the shrew in public, and specially at balls
and parties, was Madame d'Orgeval She lived in
the same time as Madame de Vervtns. Madame
dOrgeval gave great entertainments but she and
her daughter, according to the French memoirs
chiefly loved doing 1nSOlent things In a polite
manner. On all occasions Madame dOrgeval's
temper was furious II any lady danced better or
oftener than her daughter: In one instance OF
this she told the lady who offended her that II she
continued dancing she would stop the ball. she
pulled her guests with vigor, and demanded her
own way In everything.
Returning to England, our gallery OF portraits
must not omit Sarah, first Duchess OF Marlbor.
Ough, whose violent temper made her generally
dreaded. She mad the good quality OF loving her
husband, the famous general, and thinking him
the foremost or men. But to every one else she
could be shrew on occasion. Poor Queen Anne
was afraid OF her. She bullied her as IL she were
nobody. And in the MSS. room OF the British
Museum much contemporary light is thrown on
this subject by remarkable letter to be seen
there, written at the time, and describing an
order sent to the duke and duchess give up their
insignia OF onice without notice, and telling the
latter that she was not to come to the queen. who
no doubt, was afraid OF her. This was at the time
when her enemies intrigues Qed by her cousin
Miss MaSnan whom she had placed at court In
ner lntereSC we're successful.